About

This deciduous tree features a narrow crown and can reach heights of up to 10 meters. Older specimens exhibit slender branches that have a graceful, drooping habit. The leaves are palmate, consisting of 5 to 8 leaflets with finely serrated edges. In late spring and early summer, it produces conical flower panicles that can grow up to 30 centimeters, displaying white blooms adorned with pink or yellow markings.

About the genus

Aesculus consists of deciduous trees or sizable shrubs featuring prominent flowers and leaves that are lobed in a palmate arrangement. In some cases, they also exhibit appealing colors in the fall.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Exposed
UK hardiness
H7

Plant details

Plant type
Trees
Habit
Columnar upright
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
8-12 metres
Spread
2.5-4 metres
Time to full height
20-50 years
Suggested uses
Architectural
Native to
Balkans
Toxicity
Humans/Pets (dogs): harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

Cultivation
Grows best in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. For further information, see our advice on tree cultivation
Pruning
Pruning group 1
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to horse chestnut scale and leaf-mining moth
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to coral spot, canker and leaf spot